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Thursday, 12 May 2016

Nigeria Labour Congress vows to resist fuel price increase

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will resist the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, announced by the government on Wednesday, a statement has said.

The statement, issued by NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, in Abuja on Wednesday, described the increase as insensitive.

It said, “the unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products today by government represents the height of insensitivity and impunity and shall be resisted by the NLC and its civil society allies.”

It said with “the unjustifiable electricity tariff and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the naira and inflation, the least one had expected was another policy measure that would make life miserable for the ordinary Nigerian.

“The latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of product price increase as it represents not only about 80 per cent increase but it is tied to the black market exchange rate.

“Furthermore, the process through which government arrived at this is both illogical and illegal as the board of the PPPRA is not duly constituted.”

The statement said NLC through its previous statements and communiqués had stressed the need for the reconstitution of the boards of NNPC and PPPRA.

The statement accused the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu of having overbearing influence and acting as a sole administrator.

It said the allusion to the fact that the increase was arrived at after due consultation with stakeholders was ridiculous and fallacious.

“It goes to show that the brief meeting held today during which government was advised to shelve the idea until, at least, it meets with the appropriate organs of the Congress was in bad faith.

“Accordingly, we urge the government to revert the prices to what they were. We would want to put everybody on notice that we shall resist this criminal increase with every means legitimate.

“Already, an emergency NEC meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 13, to decide on the next line of action,” the statement said.

It called on affiliates, state councils and civil society allies of the Congress to commence mobilisation immediately.

The government on Wednesday announced an increase in petrol pump price from N87 to N145 per litre in an effort to stabilise the price of the product.